The heat will kill the virus, right?

[underpants]

How can we have spikes in June! It’s hot! People are going to the beach.....oh!

MURKA!!!

The heat thing was the Chinese Party’s excuse for how they stopped SARS. Actually they did massive round-ups and containment.

CHINA!!!!

The complete lack of leadership...punting it to States...horrific choices from pandering Governors....anti-science divide-at-all-turns media propaganda machine...and a sheep-like death cult.

MORONS!!!

[Under The Radar]

1. The only person that I heard or read that made the heat claim was Trump

[Caliman73]

24. To be completely honest...

There were some health experts at the very beginning, who were thinking that it might act like an influenza virus or other coronaviruses that have seasonal spikes. They were cautious in that assessment and quickly dismissed it when it was shown not to be the case.

Trump of course, is an idiot, and should never be listened to. He is usually lying, or ignorant, or some combination of both.

[Under The Radar]

25. Ignorant in spades and lies to conceal it but too ignorant to pull it off

[sarge43]

2. That and a Big Gulp of clorox. n/t

[captain queeg]

3. I happened to scroll down on worldometers

You have to go down pretty far. China has had about 82k and S Korea about 12k total. While we remain number one in the world. Brazil is trying hard to catch up, another fascist anti science leader there.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Very early on there was a hope this would be like flu

and mostly go away in warm weather. But from the very beginning it was clear that weather has almost no effect on this.

It's also important to understand that what's happening now, at least in this country, is NOT a second wave. It's still the first. Heck, it's possible there won't ever be distinct waves, that it will just continue to spread, more slowly with lockdowns, social distancing, masks, and so on, more quickly without those things.

[underpants]

5. Yes and sadly Yes

All true.

[Ohiogal]

6. "The doctors at the CDC

are amazed at how much I know about viruses! Maybe I should have become a doctor!”

[ReformedGOPer]

7. It'll magically go away...

[Chainfire]

8. 96 degrees forecast for me, in Florida

I guess that explains why Florida's numbers are dropping. Is it just going to magically disappear by Saturday?

[Blue_true]

14. My skin does this thing where it gently quivers in high heat.

It has had a ball this week and last. It is hotter than hell outside.

[Yavin4]

9. It's like living through a bad horror movie.

The Walking Stupid People.

[Blue_true]

15. Feels that way, doesn't it. nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

10. No. Not at temperatures a human can survive at.

Last edited Thu Jun 25, 2020, 06:43 PM - Edit history (1)

I believe DU'er ProfessorGAC posted several times about this question quite some time ago.

If I recall correctly, at temperatures above around 130 deg-F, the virus begins to be denatured and the the denaturing rate increases with temperature. At some point I believe above 200 deg-F, the denaturing is almost instantaneous.

KY

[underpants]

11. How about microwaving?

Thanks.

[Blue_true]

16. Don't tell Trump.

The thing that makes a microwave work is called a magnetron. If Trump found out, Trump likely would be proposing that people stick tiny magnetrons inside them. That won't work out well.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

20. Only if the food reaches adequate temperatures throughout.

See ProfessorGAC's excellent post below on temperatures and durations.

Of course, there's always the statements by experts that say it's highly unlikely we'll get an infection by ingestion. That was encouraging to read because initially, I was very concerned about the safety of carry-out foods. As a high risk person, I still am to a degree.

KY.......

[ProfessorGAC]

27. One Last Note About Ingestion

Digestive enzymes are lipatic. They can easily breakdown the lipid sheath.
Then, the active chlorine in stomach acid, and the protease will denature and/or decompose or hydrolyze the protein.
I have no idea of the exact % of total virus ingested gets ruined but it has to be high.
Active chlorine is a viral nuke.

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Accurate

Denaturation of proteins like in a CV hits a very high percentage (80% or better) at 135F for 15 minutes, assuming the presence of oxygen. (900 seconds).
Denaturation in 1st order, so every 10C doubles the rate. 200F would increase the rate by about 2^3.6. (Call it 12)
So 200F would take 75 seconds.
In discussions about meat packers getting hit, folks were concerned about contaminated meat.
We discussed cooking at 350F. That's 215 degrees above 135. That's around 110C hotter.
Reaction rate increases 2^11, or 2,048 times faster. About 450 milliseconds.
That's why cooked meat poses no threat. In 0.45 seconds the viral protein is nonviable. Nobody cooks meat for 0.45 seconds! That ain't cooking!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

17. My apologies, Prof. I credited the wrong DU'er.

Fixed it, and thanks again for your very valuable input......

As a follow-up, approximately how long would virus particles remain viable on chilled store-bought meat, say at 35 deg-F?

In other words, is it likely we can bring home a significant amount of virus on uncooked meat perhaps settled onto the meat by sick packers or butchers?

Obviously, our normal precautions against other virus and bacteria should protect us like proper kitchen and hand cleaning and proper cooking times.

KY..........

[ProfessorGAC]

26. I Would Think A Very Long Time

Perhaps indefinitely. Freezer temperatures are well below the activation energy for denaturation. Below the activation temperature, there is no true kinetic rate. In this case 15 minutes to a million years. (Example only. I didn't actually calculate a theoretical rate.)
Oxidation is out because the lipid sheath protects the protein from oxygen. At higher temperature, the lipid hits its Kraft point. It fluidizes and begins to flow, exposing the protein to oxidation too.
Oxidation, either way, is super slow at low temperatures.
Virus are just lumps of molecules, with an ability to reproduce. Cold probably has no effect on them. Maybe cryogenic temps would cause brittleness or something, but my freezer doesn't go down to 350 below zero!!
As long as hand washing is done, I don't see why meat would be any different than touching any other object.
Caution seems wise, even though now the virus experts are saying air transmission is the bigger issue.

[Blue_true]

13. The problem is in warm places, most people are under AC

for 80% of their typical day. AC helps CV spread.

[underpants]

22. Killed by our comfort

Not that doesn’t happen all the time anyway

[Blue_true]

23. We are now a wimpy nation led by a psycho. nt

[hlthe2b]

18. What he failed to realize is it requires setting one's self on fire. You first, Trump

Last edited Thu Jun 25, 2020, 07:50 PM - Edit history (2)

[underpants]

21. 🔥

[marie999]

19. Covid-19 is a novel coronavirus.

That means it is a new type of virus never seen before. And that means that scientists do not have a clue about what it can and can not do.

[GulfCoast66]

28. Actually here in Florida I'm not aware of any large outdoor outbreaks.

Except the kids at spring break, but that is not the normal beach scene. Plus after the beach they partied in their hotels which was way worse.

The problem is few people are outside in Florida right now. I was 96 in my town today. So because of our stupid governor they are all crowded into bars and restaurants. I am now driving 10 miles to go to Publix in Orange County because masks are mandated unlike here in republican led Lake County.

I feel safe at the beach or in a park. I’m seldom within 10 feet of others and it is always breezy.

Of course the wife and I spent the last 2 days 10 miles offshore. Not catch anything there. Except dinner. It will be a good while before we eat inside at a restaurant. Unless they have well spaced outdoor seating, well, I’m a good cook.

[underpants]

29. Sounds like a great time.

2 nights on the water.

[GulfCoast66]

30. Well, 2 days. We don't have that big a boat. 22 foot center console.

Be we found a nice efficiency that has a kitchenette so we don’t have to go to restaurants.

It is in Citrus County, a very red county. No one wears masks at all there so we just stay at the hotel and on the water. Bring all our food from home, except the fish which we catch. We have spent several nights there the past 4 weeks. I feel safer there than anywhere. So the irony is I feel safest in one of the non-safest county in Central Florida!

We met a couple a little younger than us. I stereotyped them as trumpers. But he immediately started talking about the idiots not wearing masks. As the conversation unfolded it turns out they are both good liberal democrats. It was a nice lagniappe to a good few days.

But that is coming to an end. My wife just called back to work. Hopefully I will soon. We’ve been furloughed for 3 months.

Have a nice evening.